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INDIANAPOLIS — Braden Smith has been brawling for the past month, working his way up through the rankings of contenders who rush off the left side.

There was Tennessee’s Derrick Morgan, a steady, workmanlike presence for so many years. There was a date with Cameron Wake, the cagey veteran, as dangerous as he’s ever been despite being one of the oldest boxers in the division. There were two bouts against Jacksonville’s young bull, Yannick Ngakoue.

This week, the rookie will be in there with the champ.

For the first time in a long time, J.J. Watt is fully healthy and back to full strength, tied for fourth in the NFL with 11.5 sacks. Watt sacked Andrew Luck twice and forced two fumbles in the first meeting against the two teams.

That was a different Colts offensive line, back before Smith took over at right tackle and made it his own, before the return of Anthony Castonzo and the emergence of Smith and Mark Glowinski solidified the right side of the Indianapolis offensive line into something formidable. Watt spent most of his day rushing against Denzelle Good; this time, he’ll be lined up frequently against a rookie tackle out of Auburn, a promising player who is looking forward to his chance to trade a few blows with the undisputed champ.

“I embrace it,” Smith said.

Smith isn’t being cocky.

Far from it. Smith, like a lot of players, simply relishes the chance to test himself against the game’s best.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) runs away from Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) in the second half of their game on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. The Indianapolis Colts lost 37-34 in overtime to the Houston Texans. (Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

When Watt was winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Texans, Smith was a high school kid growing up in Kansas then a young offensive lineman at Auburn. Watt was inescapable.

Flip on ESPN, turn the channel to any NFL game. Watt was inescapable.

“You hear about him all the time on TV, especially growing up,” Smith said. “And of course, you watch the film; he’s a great player.”

The film Smith has watched this week lives up to the legend. Back surgery cost Watt the 2016 season, and a tibial plateau fracture, a once-in-a-lifetime injury, ended his comeback bid in 2017, but the Watt who shows up on film this year looks a lot like the legend Smith remembers watching in Auburn.

“He’s got a high motor, he’s quick,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of strengths. There’s not too many weaknesses.”

A prize fight like the one Smith finds himself in against Watt this weekend used to be a rare occurrence for a right tackle.

According to conventional wisdom, a team always puts its best pass rusher on the right side of the defensive line, in order to better attack the quarterback’s blind side. Offenses, in turn, have always put their best athletes at left tackle as a buffer between the quarterback’s back and the marauding violence of players like Lawrence Taylor and DeMarcus Ware.

But those roles have been changing. Denver superstar Von Miller rushes primarily off the left side; so does Chicago’s Khalil Mack, New Orleans’ Cameron Jordan and Kansas City’s Justin Houston, among others. With the game’s best offensive linemen protecting the blind side, it makes sense to parry by shifting a team’s best pass rusher to the other side.

Particularly if a team has another talented pass rusher, like Jadeveon Clowney or Whitney Mercilus in Houston, testing a left tackle like Anthony Castonzo while Watt terrorizes the right.

For that reason, Smith is used to facing off against a pass rusher with talent, although nobody possesses Watt’s entire skill set. The rookie has held up well against the gauntlet he’s faced since the Colts came off of the bye; Wake beat him for a sack in the Miami game, and Ngakoue had his moments, but for the most part, the rookie who spent most of his time at Auburn as a guard has been a revelation as a tackle in the NFL.

A big, powerful man even as a rookie, Smith has all of the tools to face down some of the NFL’s best pass rushers, and the Colts can always offer help in the form of a chip from another offensive lineman or a tight end.

“I think Braden stacks up, physically, really well with him,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “Braden is a big, strong man, and obviously, so is J.J. Watt. … I think J.J. Watt brings a lot of experience and a lot of elusiveness. He’s not only strong, but he’s very good in everything. It will be a good challenge for Braden, but we feel confident he will be ready.”

Watt has been watching. He knows the Colts offensive line coming to Houston this weekend is far different than the one he and Clowney terrorized in Indianapolis in September.

“Obviously, they gel the more they get to play together,” Watt said. “They have done a pretty good job protecting Andrew, and like I said, when he gets the ball out quick, they have been able to do the things they want to do.”

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

A dejected Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) turns to tight end Erik Swoope (86) following the final play of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Erik Swoope (86) catches the ball and hit by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) on the final play of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

A dejected Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) following the final play of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Ronnie Harrison (36) in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

A dejected Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) turns to tight end Erik Swoope (86) following the final play of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) walks off the filed at the end of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) passes the ball in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) walks off the field dejected as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) begins to celebrate in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Evan Boehm (67) walks off the field following an injuryn in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Zach Pascal (14) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back D.J. Hayden (25) in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) signals to his teammates in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Telvin Smith (50) and Ronnie Harrison (36) in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) dejected on the bench late in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Denico Autry (96) not happy late in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) holds onto the ball just before he is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) in the second half of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 6-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) attempts to bring down Jacksonville Jaguars running back Carlos Hyde (34) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is pressured by in Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is chased out of the pocket by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) hands the ball off to running back Nyheim Hines (21) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) attempts to bring down Jacksonville Jaguars running back Carlos Hyde (34) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is pressured by in Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler (6) passes over Indianapolis Colts defensive end Jabaal Sheard (93) in the second quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back to pass on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (50) takes down Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (24) in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back to pass on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) walks off the field after failing to make a first down in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) runs by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler (6) gets the pass by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Telvin Smith (50) in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back to pass on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back to pass on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) drops back to pass on the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in the first quarter of their game at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar